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A.421 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.421 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: The ~~Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii$ Forest Alliance (A.421)$$ occurs in high-elevation subalpine habitats of the northern Rockies. Stands of this alliance usually occur at or near the treeline on north-facing cirques or slopes where snowfields lie until June or July. Elevations range from 2000-2800 m, and frost may occur at any time of the year. The climate is very snowy and moist with yearly snow accumulations of 2-3 m. Abrasion by wind-driven snow is characteristic of upper elevation stands and leads to stunted or flagged trees, particularly of ~Abies lasiocarpa$. Soils are acidic, poorly developed, and comprised almost exclusively of fractured granitic or quartzite rocks which have not been previously colonized by other vascular plants. The majority of sites where this alliance occurs experienced heavy alpine glaciation less than 12,000 years ago. Adjacent vegetation is often alpine heath or grasslands, permanent snowfields, or ~Larix lyallii$ woodlands at the upper elevational margin and coniferous forests of ~Abies lasiocarpa$ and ~Picea engelmannii$ at the lower margin. At similar elevations, stands of ~Pinus albicaulis$ may occur on adjacent south-facing slopes or ridges with lower snow accumulations and seasonal soil drought. ~Larix lyallii$ typically forms the tree canopy, with variable amounts of ~Abies lasiocarpa$ also present. Other conifers, such as ~Pinus albicaulis$, and ~Picea engelmannii$, can be present but are never abundant. In some stands, ~Abies lasiocarpa$ is found only as severely stunted 'shrub' under the ~Larix lyallii$ canopy. Combinations of the shrubs ~Vaccinium scoparium$ and ~Phyllodoce empetriformis$ are dominant in the understory, along with the graminoid ~Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii (= Luzula hitchcockii)$ and the forb ~Arnica latifolia$. No other information is available.  Accession Code: VB.CC.2085.A421 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
	status: accepted Community's Parent: I.C.3.N.a This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: ABIES LASIOCARPA - LARIX LYALLII FOREST ALLIANCE   Code: A.421   Common: Subalpine Fir - Subalpine Larch Forest Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Abies lasiocarpa - Larix lyallii Forest Alliance